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Active Travel Active Scotland

Tuesday the 29th of May saw the publication of a major new report, ‘Active Travel, Active Scotland’ which sets out how government can help deliver growth in walking and cycling through a practical and achievable action plan. The report, published by an alliance of active travel and sustainable transport organisations, will be launched at the ‘Walking, Cycling, Connecting Communities‘ conference being held tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow. Scottish transport minister Keith Brown MSP will join a panel debate on sustainable cities, while the conference will feature expert speakers on public health, urban planning and design, and social justice.

Louise Batchelor, Chair of the Conference, said:

“We have a Cycling Action Plan with ambitious targets to increase cycling in Scotland. Just a fortnight ago, the Scottish Government committed to develop a National Walking Strategy which should set equally ambitious targets for walking. The five organisations are today publishing a radical vision for walking or cycling to be the natural choice for short journeys, creating a healthier, socially inclusive, economically vibrant, environmentally friendly Scotland. The conference will look forward to hearing how Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government will help deliver the vision of Active Travel, Active Scotland, especially through an effective Cycling Action Plan and National Walking Strategy.”

Transport Minister Keith Brown said:

““Since 2007, the Scottish Government has invested over £83m in infrastructure and measures to encourage more active travel, including expansion of the National Cycle Network. The £50 million Futures Transport Fund announced earlier this year will support better public transport, low carbon vehicles and walking and cycling initiatives.

“This will also enhance Transport Scotland’s partnership working with key stakeholders such as Sustrans, Cycling Scotland and local authorities and will contribute directly to the ambitious vision in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland – that by 2020, 10 per cent of all journeys in Scotland will be by bike. And later this week I will be meeting with the organisers of ‘Pedal on Parliament’ to discuss their proposals and how we can continue to work together to promote cycling in Scotland.

“Everyone has a role to play in encouraging behaviour change and adopting healthier travel habits. We have made considerable progress in recent years, but with the Commonwealth Games on the horizon there is no better catalyst to create a lasting legacy and a healthier, fitter and more active nation through encouraging healthy and positive attitudes towards becoming physically active.”

The report ‘Active Travel, Active Scotland’ is published jointly by Cycling Scotland, Living Streets Scotland, Paths for All, Sustrans Scotland and Transform Scotland. It sets out a framework for bodies to follow that will see walking and cycling become the natural choice for short journeys, creating a healthier, socially inclusive, economically vibrant and environmentally friendly Scotland. The report finds that active travel has an overwhelmingly strong policy impetus, hitting transport, health, social inclusion, local economic development and regeneration objectives. Investment in active travel can also support achievement of the Scottish Government’s challenging carbon reduction targets.